Most people know they need an estate plan. Almost nobody knows exactly which documents they need. This interactive flowchart walks you through 6 simple questions and tells you precisely which documents to get — and which you can skip.
No legal jargon. No scare tactics. Just a clear, honest assessment of what you need based on your actual life situation.
Do you have minor children (under 18)?
This is the single most important factor in your estate plan. If you have kids, guardianship designation alone makes a will non-negotiable.
✅ Yes
❌ No
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Is your total net worth above $500,000?
Include everything: home equity, retirement accounts, investment accounts, business value, and life insurance death benefit. Subtract debts. If you're not sure, our Financial Health Score can help.
✅ Yes, above $500K
❌ No, below $500K
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Do you own real estate in more than one state?
If you own property in multiple states, probate must be filed separately in each state — a revocable living trust avoids this entirely. This includes vacation homes, rental properties, and inherited land.
✅ Yes
❌ No
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Do you want to keep your estate distribution private?
Wills become public record when they go through probate — anyone can look up what you owned and who inherited it. Trusts remain completely private. If privacy matters to you, a trust is the answer.
✅ Yes, privacy matters
❌ No, not a concern
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Are you married or in a domestic partnership?
Married couples have additional planning considerations: joint vs. individual trusts, spousal beneficiary rules, and unlimited marital deduction for estate tax purposes.
✅ Yes
❌ No
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Do you own a business or have complex investments?
Business succession planning, partnership agreements, stock options, and complex investment holdings may require additional trust provisions or specialized planning beyond a basic will.
Regardless of which documents you need, here's how assets typically transfer at death — and where the gaps usually hide:
✅ Bypass probateRetirement accounts (401k, IRA), life insurance, joint accounts, POD/TOD accounts, and assets in a trust — these transfer directly to named beneficiaries.
⚠️ Goes through probateIndividually titled assets without beneficiaries: real estate in your name only, bank accounts without POD, personal property, vehicles. A will controls these; a trust avoids probate.
⚠️ Important Disclosure
DigitalWealthSource publishes educational financial content. Nothing on this site constitutes personalized financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Every person's financial situation is unique. We strongly encourage consulting with a qualified financial advisor, CPA, or attorney before making significant financial decisions.